[UPDATE - April 30, 2026] A Sony spokesperson has finally explained how the new PlayStation online DRM policy will work.
[ORIGINAL STORY] Over the last weekend, it was widely reported that Sony introduced changes to its PlayStation DRM policy, which now requires users to connect online every 30 days to continue playing every digital game purchased after March 2026. While the company has yet to provide an official clarification on the matter, detective work conducted by ResetERA forums member andshrew revealed how this new policy seems to be related to the 14-days refund window for digital purchases.
Using a jailbroken PlayStation 4, the ResetERA user poked around behind the scenes, making some interesting findings, staring from how digital licenses work.
"The PS4 will install a license file for all of the content your account owns, regardless of whether or not that content is actually installed (this is a key point if it is true that they are addressing a license exploit). This happens automatically, so if I buy a game on the PS Store web site and then turn on my PS4 the license for that recent purchase is automatically installed. Whether or not you can actually use the license for the game is then further controlled by the activation state of your console (ie. is it set to Primary for offline play), or whether you're online and connected to PSN (in the case of non-Primary consoles). In either case those license files always seem to be present."
These PlayStation DRM licenses are valid for an indefinite amount of time for purchased content, 14 days for content from PS+ Extra and Premium, and for the duration of the subscription for PS+ Essential games.
"What has changed now is that new purchases are not being automatically issued a license file with an indefinite duration, instead a 30 day license is issued. I have two recent purchase games I've been able to test this with," andshrew said.
- "Game one I purchased on 9th April. I turned the PS4 on on 21st April, and a 30-day license for the game was automatically installed. I then installed the game on 25th April. The information screen confirmed the game was only playable offline for another 26 days. Approx. 30 minutes after installing the game, the license had been replaced with one which is valid for an indefinite amount of time, and this remains the case even if I delete and reinstall the game. So that is 16 days between the initial purchase and the license showing as being eligible for permanent offline play."
- "Game two I purchased yesterday on 27th April, and I installed it the same day. Again a 30 day license for the game was installed. Unlike the first game, no permanent license has been issued yet."
With the only difference being that the refund window for the first purchase is now closed, which prompted the issue with the permanent license, it seems this new PlayStation DRM policy will not be as restrictive as it appeared at first glance. Until Sony clarifies the matter, however, it's too soon to say whether the original Xbox One DRM policy will rear its ugly head again and bring back a DRM policy that is against consumers.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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